Back rest for beds



Nov. 29, '1 966 Filed Feb. 8, 1965 F. E. WEDDLE BACK BEST FOR BEDS 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. FRANCIS E. WEDDLE 4 Hornet s Nov. 29, 1966 F.E. WEDDLE BACK REST FOR BEDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1965INVENTOR. FRANCIS E. WEDDLE MMM Fig. 4.

AHorne\ S United States PatentO 3,287,746 BACK REST FOR BEDS Francis E.Weddle, Bargersville, Ind. Filed Feb. 8, 1965, Ser. No. 430,946 Claims.(Cl. 5-327) The present invention relates to an improved back rest for abed; and more particularly, to a back rest which be stored in a verticalposition and tilted as desired to provide a reclining support for aperson sitting in bed.

It has long been useful to provide beds with tiltable back rests inorder to make sitting up in bed more comfortable. Invalids or people whoprefer to relax in bed find it highly desirable to have a back rest thatcan be secured in any one of several angular positions with respect tothe bed and that can be stored, when not in use in an out-of-the-wayplace. While prior back rests have been proposed for beds, a commondeficiency in most of these back rests is that the adjustable element islikely to bind during movement in either direction between its storageposition and a related position angular with respect to the bed. It istherefore desirable to provide a back rest which has a guiding meansthat allows the back rest to be moved angularly with respect to the bedwithout binding; or if binding should occur, to provide movement in theback rest so that the bound back rest can be freed.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a back rest whichhas a guiding structure that minimizes chance of the back rest beingbound in position.

It is still further an object of this invention to provide an improvedback rest which if it becomes bound, is movable to either side so thatthe back rest may be freed and moved as desired.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention maybe embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings,attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings areillustrative only, and that change may be made in the specificconstruction illustrated and described so long as the scope of theappended claims is not violated.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the improved back rest of thisinvention, mounted on a bed, and shown inits storage position (solidlines) and in a position angular with respect to the bed (dotted lines);

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the improved back rest of this inventionshown in a state of disassembly;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary and enlarged view showing a portion of thedetailed construction of the frame of the back rest illustrated in FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, sectional view taken generally along the sectionline 44 of FIG. 1, of the improved back rest of this invention fullyassembled and in its storage position (solid lines), and (in brokenlines) in two of its alternative positions;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view, partially in crosssection,illustrating one means by which the improved back rest of this inventionmay be mounted as an attachment on a conventional bed; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the improved slide guide of thisinvention taken substantially along section line 66 of FIG. 4.

In accordance with the broader aspects of this invention, there isprovided a back rest comprising a frame which may be the head board of abed or which may be separately mounted on a bed, and which has acentrally located and vertical trackway, and a board having a hingemeans secured thereto with a discoid slide having a per imetral bearingsurface secured to said hinge means. Thediscoid slide is mounted in theaforementioned trackway with its bearing surfaces contiguous to aportion of trackway whereby the board is mounted on the frame andcapable of vertical reciprocation and binge action with respect to theframe and oscillation about the axis of the discoid slide.

Referring to the drawings, the back rest of this invention generallycomprises a rectangular frame 10 and a rectangular board 12 attached toframe 10 and angularly slidable with respect to frame 10. As shown inFIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the back rest may include a pair of leg-supports 14,16 by which frame 10 may be mounted as an attachment on a conventionalHollywood-type bed at the head end thereof.

Frame 10 comprises a pair of end portions 18 and side portions 20 whichare secured in end-to-end relationship so as to form a rectangularframe, and a forward extending perimetral flange 22 which issubstantially perpendicular to frame 10, thereby forming a relativelyshallow box. A trackway 24 comprising two elongated, parallel strips orrails 26 is mounted on frame 10 within perimetral flange 22 at a medialposition intermediate and parallel end portions 18. Elongated strips 26have facing edges 28 which extend vertically between side portions 20.Mounted on each end portion 18 adjacent perimetral flange 22 in verticalalignment are a plurality of hooks 30. Hooks 30, as shown in FIG. 3, aresecured to end portions 18 by means of screws in such a manner that eachhook 30 is adjustable in vertical position.

Board 12 is rectangular in shape, having ends 33 and sides 34, and is ofsuch a size as to fit within the perimetral flange 22 with edges 33, 34adjacent and parallel to end portions 18 and side portions 20 of frame10 respectively. Adjacent the opposite ends 33 of the upper side 34 ofboard 12 two brackets 36 are mounted. Each bracket 36 has a mountingportion 38 through which a plurality of screws 40 are inserted anddriven into board 12 thereby securing the bracket 36 in position, and aportion 42 which is bent away from the surface of the board 12 adjacentside 34. A pin 44 is secured to portion 42 in parallel, spaced relationto side 34 of board 12, as most clearly seen in FIG. 4, by welding,brazing or other suitable means.

Secured to board 12 at a medial position between the opposite ends 33 ofboard 12 and adjacent to side 34 is a hinge plate 46 which is secured toboard 12 by means of screws 48. Hinge plate 46 has a portion 50 bentaway from board 12 adjacent side 34. Bent away portion 50 has at itsdistal end two spaced, curled ears 52 formed therefrom. An intermediatehinge plate 54 having a curled ear 55 at one end thereof is pivotallyattached to hinge plate 46 by means of a pintle 56 driven through theears 52, 55 of hinge plates 46, 54. At its opposite end, plate 54 isformed with spaced ears 59, and a third hinge plate 58 having an ear 61at one edge is secured to intermediate hinge plate 54 by means of apintle 60.

A disc 64 is provided having a perimetral groove 66 with a bottom 68 andupstanding and facing bearing surfaces 70, 72 defining a rectangulargroove cross-section. Disc 64 thereby forms a discoid slide which can beslidably mounted between the vertical rails 26 of trackway 24 withfacing edges 28 within the groove 66 and adjacent bottom 68 of thegroove 66. Disc 64 thereby mounted has a forward facing surface 74 whichis secured to surface 62 of hinge plate 68 by means of screws 76 driventhrough hinge plate 68 into disc 64.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 2 and 5, the means by which frame 10 canbe secured to the head end of a conventional Hollywood bed is shown.Each leg element 14, 16 comprises an upper leg member 78 having oppositeends 80, 82 and a rearwardly turned toe portion 84 adjacent end and alower leg member 85 having opposite ends 86, 88 and a forwardly bent toeportion 89 adjacent end 88. Adjacent ends 86 of leg portions 85 andextending longitudinally for a portion of the length of members 85 areelongated slots 90. A generally C-shaped strap 92 is provided for eachleg element, proportioned to embrace the lower portion of member 78 andthe upper portion of member 85. Bolts 94 are passed through slots 90 andthrough registering perforations (not shown) in straps 92 and members 78to secure members 85 adjustably to members 78. Leg members '78 aresecured to perimetral flange 22 adjacent one side 20 of frame It) bymeans of positioning toes 80 contiguous to the flange 10 by means ofpositioning toes 80 contiguous to the flange 22 and securing themtogether by means of bolts or screws 96. Leg elements 16, 14 may besecured to the head end of a box spring of a conventional bed bypositioning toes 88 contiguous to the end piece 97 of the box spring andsecuring them together by means of screws spring and securing themtogether by means of screws 98.

In a specific embodiment of this invention, the frame 10 and the board12 are preferably made of wood, but may be made of metal, plastic or anyother rigid selfsupporting material having the requisite strength. Legelement 14, 16, trackway 24, hooks 30, hinge plates 46, 54, 58 and boltsand screws 48, 32, 96, 98, 94 are preferably made of metal but can bemade of other rigid and self-supporting materials which are equallysuitable. Disc 64 is desirably made of Teflon, nylon or a similarbearing material.

In one embodiment of this invention, a leaf spring 100 is secured to theperimetral flange 22 at a medial position adjacent the upper sideportion 20 of frame ltl. Leaf spring 100 holds the board 12 in storageposition and against rattling when properly inserted into the perimetralflange 22 by urging the top side 34 of board 12 away from flange 22 andthe bottom side 34 toward and into contact with flange 22. Also fingeropenings 102 may be positioned on the forward facing surface of board 12so as to provide an easy means for grasping board 12 to remove the board12 from its storage position; or a suitable handle may be attached tothe board in any desired manner.

In operation, the frame 10 is mounted on the head end of a conventionalbed by means of the leg elements 14, 16 as shown in FIGS. 2 and or inthe alternative frame may be built into or secured to a conventionalhead board in substantially the same position. Hooks 30 are thenpositioned vertically on end members 18 of frame It) at the desiredlocations. Vertical adjustments in position can be made of hooks 30 tosuit individual tastes and needs. Disc. 64 is then positioned intrackway 24 and board 12 is assembled onto frame 10 as shown in FIG. 4.Board 12 is then stored in the position shown in FIG. 4 in the solidlines with leaf spring 100 urging the board 12 against the bottomportion of perimetral flange 22 thereby keeping board 12 in storageposition.

Whenever it is desired to use the back rest, board 12 can be removedfrom within the perimetral flange 22 by grasping the openings or handle102 and pulling the board 12 upwardly and outwardly. By pulling theboard 12 outwardly away from the perimetral flange 22 and the frame 119,the board may be raised and lowered in vertical reciprocation by slidingdisc 64 vertically in trackway 24, or it may be angularly moved withrespect to the frame 10 by means of the pivotal connection of board 12to the disc 64, or it may be moved about the axis of disc 64 by means ofrotating 64 in trackway 24. By being capable of all three suchmovements, the board 12 can be freed from flange 22 and frame 10 if itbecomes bound and can be positioned in a variety of desirable positions.When a desirable position is found, the pins 44 of the brackets 36 arereceived into the hooks 38 on either end of the frame 10 and are securedtherein by pushing downwardly on the board 12. By this means, the pins44 may be secured to frame 10 in a variety of positions (see positions12a and 12b of FIG. 4). Each of the positions,

12a, 12b refers to a location of the pins 44 in a different pair ofhooks 30, and places the board 12 at a different angular position withrespect to the bed and frame 10. The lower the pair of hooks 30 in whichrods 44 are secured the more nearly horizontal the board 12 becomes.

While the above description sets forth a specific construction, it iswithin the scope of this invention to finish the frame 10 withdecorative styling in a manner of conventional head boards, and toupholster board 12 so as to provide a comfortable back rest for aconventional bed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A back rest for beds comprising a rectangular frame having oppositeend portions and side portions and a forward extending perimetralflange, said flange and said end and side portions being substantiallyperpendicular thereby forming a shallow box,

means for vertically mounting said box onto the head end of a bed,

a plurality of hooks mounted on said end portions in vertical,spaced-apart relationship adjacent said perimetral flange, said hooksbeing adjustable in vertical position,

a trackway comprising two elongated and parallel strips havingfacingedges, said trackway being secured to said side portions parallel tosaid end portions and extending from one of said side portions to theother of said side portions, said trackway being at a medial positionintermediate said end portions,

a rectangular board having opposite ends and sides, said board being ofa size to fit within said perimetral flange,

a pair of brackets mounted on said board adjacent said opposite ends andone of said sides of said board, each of said brackets having a portionwhich is bent away from said board adjacent said one side of said board,

a pair of pins secured respectively to said bent portions of saidbrackets parallel and adjacent said side of said board,

three hinge plates hingedly connected in edge-to-edge relationship, oneof said hinge plates being secured to said board adjacent said one sideat a medial position intermediate said opposite ends of said board, saidone hinge plate being bent away from said board adjacent the connectionwith the intermediate hinge plate and adjacent said one side, saidintermediate hinge plate being capable of overlapping said one of saidhinge plates, and

a discoid slide having a perimetral groove with a bottom and twoupstanding bearing surfaces, said bearing surfaces defining arectangular groove cross-section, said slide being mounted in saidtrackway, said facing edges of said strips being in said groove adjacentsaid bottom, the third of said hinge plates being mounted on saiddiscoid slide whereby said board is mounted on said frame and capable ofvertical reciprocation and hinge action with respect to said frame andoscillation about the axis of said disc, and whereby said hooks receivesaid pins to secure said board in positions angular with respect to saidframe.

2. The back rest of claim 1 wherein said means comprises a pair ofsupports having second opposite ends, each support having an uppermember and a lower member, said members being overlapped and slidablysecured to each other thereby being adjustable in length, each of saidsupports having an end portion adjacent said second opposite end, one ofsaid end portions being secured to said frame, the other of said endportions being adapted to be secured to the head end of a bed.

3. A back rest for beds comprising a frame having opposite ends and aforward extending perimetral flange,

means for vertically mounting said frame onto the head end of a bed,

a plurality of hook means mounted on said frame adjacent said ends invertical, spaced apart relationship adjacent said flange, a trackwayhaving elongated and parallel facing edges, said trackway beingvertically secured to said frame intermediate said ends, a boardproportioned to fit within said flange and having opposite ends, secondmeans mounted on said board adjacent said opposite ends of said boardfor engaging said hook means, hinge means secured to said boardintermediate said opposite ends of said board, said hinge means having asurface, and a discoid slide having a perimetral groove with a bottomand two upstanding bearing surfaces, said bearing surfaces defining arectangular groove cross-section, said slide being mounted in saidtrackway, said oppositely facing edges of said trackway being in saidgroove, said slide having a forward facing surface, said forward facingsurface being mounted on said surface of said hinge means whereby saidboardis mounted on said frame and capable of vertical reciprocation andhinge action with respect to said frame and oscillation about the theaxis of said disc. 4. A back rest for beds comprising a frame having acentrally located vertical trackway, said trackway having elongated andparallel facing edges, means for mounting said frame onto the head endof a bed, a board having opposite ends, hinge means secured to saidboard intermediate said opposite ends, and a discoid slide mounted onsaid hinge means and having a perimetral bearing surface, said slidebeing mounted in said trackway, said facing edges being contiguous to aportion of said bearing surface whereby said board is mounted on saidframe and capable of vertical reciprocation and hinge action withrespect to said frame and oscillation about the axis of said disc.

5. A back rest and bed combination comprising a bed having head and footends, a frame having a centrally located vertical trackway, saidtrackway having elongated and parallel facing edges, means for mountingsaid frame onto said bed at said head end, a board having opposite ends,hinge means secured to said board intermediate said opposite ends, adiscoid slide mounted on said hinge means and having a perimetralbearing surface, said slide being mounted in said trackway with saidfacing edges contiguous to a portion of said bearing surface, andcooperating means on said frame and on said board for supporting theupper edge of said board selectively in any one of a plurality ofpositions of vertical adjustment relative to said frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,554,799 5/1951Sprunger 5--327 2,844,829 7/1958 Levy 5327 3,110,911 11/1963 Osborne5-327 X FRANCIS K. ZUGEL, Acting Primary Examiner.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Examiner.

R. D. KRAUS, Assistant Examiner.

1. A BACK REST FOR BEDS COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR FRAME HAVING OPPOSITEEND PORTIONS AND SIDE PORTIONS AND A FORWARD EXTENDING PERIMETRALFLANGE, SAID FLANGE AND SAID END AND SIDE PORTIONS BEING SUBSTANTIALLYPERPENDICULAR THEREBY FORMING A SHALLOW BOX, MEANS FOR VERTICALLYMOUNTING SAID BOX ONTO THE HEAD END OF A BED, A PLURALITY OF HOOKSMOUNTED ON SAID END PORTIONS IN VERTICAL, SPACED-APART RELATIONSHIPADJACENT SAID PERIMETRAL FLANGE, SAID HOOKS BEING ADJUSTABLE IN VERTICALPOSITION, A TRACKWAY COMPRISING TWO ELONGATED AND PARALLEL STRIPS HAVINGFACING EDGES, SAID TRACKWAY BEING SECURTED TO SAID SIDE PORTIONSPARALLEL TO SAID END PORTIONS AND EXTENDING FROM ONE OF SAID SIDEPORTIONS TO THE OTHER OF SAID SIDE PORTIONS, SAID TRACKWAY BEING AT AMEDIAL POSITION INTERMEDIATE SAID END PORTIONS, A RECTANGULAR BOARDHAVING OPPOSITE ENDS, AND SIDES, SAID BOARD BEING A SIZE TO FIT WITHINSAID PERIMETRAL FLANGE, A PAIR OF BRACKETS MOUNTED ON SAID BOARDADJACENT SAID OPPOSITE ENDS AND ONE OF SAID SIDES OF SAID BOARD, EACH OFSAID BRACKETS HAVING A PORTION WHICH IS BENT AWAY FROM SAID BOARDADJACENT SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID BOARD, A PAIR OF PINS SECUREDRESPECTIVELY TO SAID BENT PORTIONS OF SAID BRACKETS PARALLEL ANDADJACENT SAID SIDE OF SAID BOARD, THREE HINGE PLATES HINGEDLY CONNECTEDIN EDGE-TO-EDGE RELATIONSHIP, ONE OF SAID HINGE PLATES BEING SECURED TOSAID BOARD ADJACENT SAID ONE SIDE AT A MEDIAL POSITION INTERMEDIATE SAIDOPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID BOARD, SAID ONE HINGE PLATE BEING BENT AWAY FROMSAID BOARD ADJACENT THE CONNECTION WITH THE INTERMEDIATE HINGE PLATE ANDADJACENT SAID ONE SIDE, SAID INTERMEDIATE HINGE PLATE BEING CAPABLE OFOVERLAPPING SAID ONE OF SAID HINGE PLATES, AND A DISCOID SLIDE HAVING APERIMETRAL GROOVE WITH A BOTTOM AND TWO UPSTANDING BEARING SURFACES,SAID BEARING SURFACES DEFINING A RECTANGULAR GROOVE CROSS-SECTION, SAIDSLIDE BEING MOUNTED IN SAID TRACKWAY, SAID FACING EDGES OF SAID STRIPSBEING IN SAID GROOVE ADJACENT SAID BOTTOM, THE THIRD OF SAID HINGEPLATES BEING MOUNTED ON SAID DISCOID SLIDE WHEREBY SAID BOARD IS MOUNTEDON SAID FRAME AND CAPABLE OF VERTICAL RECIPROCATION AND HINGE ACTIONWITH RESPECT TO SAID FRAME AND OSICLLATION ABOUT THE AXIS OF SAID DISC,AND WHEREBY SAID HOOKS RECEIVE AND PINS TO SECURE SAID BOARD INPOSITIONS ANGULAR WITH RESPECT TO SAID FRAME.